Thursday, February 17, 2011

Quick Guide to Ashley's Belgian Beer Festival

You like Belgian beers. Perhaps you've heard tell of a lot of Belgian beers being poured this week at Ashley's Westland location. You're interested, but don't really understand what's going on when.

Last night, most of Ashley's 40-some taps were moved over to all kinds of Belgian ales. It was "SourFest," meaning bottles of sour ales were available as well.

Tonight is the Belgian beer dinner with Jef Versele of Van Steenberge brewery in Ertvelde, Belgium. See here for more details.

Friday is happy hour from 4-6pm with Versele, featuring $2 off Gulden Draak, and a Belgian dinner buffet runs from 6-9pm.

Saturday is "Abbey Ales" day, which includes a focus on dubbels (12-4pm), tripels (4-8pm), and quads (8pm until close). Again, some examples of all styles will be on draft at all times; the ranges refer to when bottles of the particular style will also be available.

Sunday all day is Trappist ale day (e.g., Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren (not available in the U.S.), and La Trappe).

A list of available beers, sortable by brewery, style, and other parameters, is here. You purchase tickets ($1 = 1 ticket), which you exchange for a sample of whichever beer you pick. Sample sizes are 12 cl (about 4 oz.) and mostly range from 3-5 tickets, depending on the price and rarity of the beer.

Festival packets are available here, and they range from "Silver" (20 tickets) to "Gold" (34 tickets) and include a beer menu and program, event lanyard and pin, Belgian Beer Tour card, food coupons, and more. Or you can just show up and buy tickets as you need them.